VLCC Rates Hit Record $1.27 Million a Day as Oman Transfer Capacity Maxes Out

Capacity for ship-to-ship transfers of crude oil off the coast of Oman has reached its limits after Saudi Arabia diverted its flows from the port of Yanbu amid Houthi attacks, Reuters has reported, citing unnamed trading sources and analysts. The report said Saudi Arabia has sold some 60 million barrels of crude, to be shipped from the Gulf of Oman after being transferred from smaller carriers to supertankers, for delivery this month and in October. This has tightened an already tight very large crude carrier market and led to a further increase…